An Everlane Sweater For Every Kind Of Weather

If you’re a long time reader, you probably know that I have a lot of Everlane sweaters. One of my very first reviews of Everlane was of their cashmere sweater (back in 2015!), and I’ve pretty much tried every Everlane sweater under the sun since then. Just check out my sweaters section of my collected Everlane reviews post. And I have to say that Everlane’s sweater game has just been getting better with time. I’m really loving the styles and fibers they have on offer currently, so I decided to do a little post highlighting my favorite Everlane sweater for every kind of weather (also it was an excuse for me to talk about sweater weather and be able to use these two words repeatedly). Here are my choices from warmest to coldest weather:

70+ degrees F weather: The Cotton Linen V-neck

Ok, so I know I just got and reviewed this sweater, but I loooove this sweater made for warm weather. Of course if it’s really hot, there’s no need for a sweater. But for a city like SF where there are micro-climates, layering is key and this sweater is the perfect little cover-up for mild days. This would also work for those who easily get cold in even slightly air conditioned rooms (though if you’re working in a cold office environment you’ll probably want the cotton sweater below). This sweater also works for those who want a bit of a cover-up from the summer sun but don’t want to slather on SPF.

65 degrees F weather: The Soft Cotton Square Crew

I reviewed this here and it’s my favorite 100% cotton sweater (especially for those who are on the petite side). This sweater is made from a good thick cotton knit that’ll keep you warm but not too warm. I liked this sweater so much I got two of them (one in ochre and one in navy) and I find I use them both a lot. They’re especially useful for me in air conditioned environments.

60 degrees F weather: The Waffle-Knit Square Cashmere Crew

When the temperatures start to dip, I look forward to breaking out my cashmere sweaters. And my favorite cashmere sweater from Everlane is the waffle knit square crew (reviewed here). I have two of these as well: one in navy from 2017 and one in oatmeal from 2018. The cashmere of these sweaters feel more substantial and quality than those of the $100 cashmere sweaters and I think it’s definitely worth the $55 price difference between the two sweaters. Also the waffle knit texture just adds more interest to every outfit you wear it with. I also love the split side detail (for easy french tucking) and the split sleeve detail. If you prefer more of a 90’s sweater look, the cashmere rib round crew (reviewed here) is also a great textured cashmere sweater.

55 degrees F weather: The Oversized Alpaca Crew

Even though I disliked the mix of nylon with the alpaca in this sweater (which I talked about in my review of it here), I kind of get it because 1) 100% alpaca is darn expensive and 2) 100% alpaca is hot as heck. Having tried one from Lauren Manoogian, a thick 100% alpaca knit is too hot for California’s winters and probably too hot to wear indoors. So this makes the Everlane alpaca blend sweater the perfect one for cold weather (though I’m sure for really cold and or/windy weather you’re going to want to layer this with a coat or jacket) without being too hot.

Anyway as we head into spring and then summer, sweaters will probably not be on your mind. But I felt like since Everlane’s sweater selection is so good right now, I would be remiss not to take the opportunity to write a post like this. Anyone else have multiple Everlane sweaters? About 90% of all my sweaters are Everlane and it seems like they’re getting better and better every year!

Everlane Review: The Cotton Linen V-neck Sweater

Hi guys and it’s been awhile with my Everlane reviews but here’s a fresh new one (I pushed up this new review since I got a lot of interest about this sweater on Insta but the posts after this will be back to those written pre-birth). Since I utterly failed at my one new item per month resolution in March, I just let everything slide and ordered two new items from Everlane in the last week of March (it’s like when you blow your diet so then you eat ALL THE FOOD). But oh it felt so good to scratch my Everlane itch and get this cotton linen v-neck sweater and the mini form bag. And it felt even better when I realized both items were clear winners for me (ah, there’s that Everlane that I know and love)!

First a note on sizing, I got this sweater in a small (my regular Everlane size) and I would say it fits TTS. The sweater is boxy and cropped, which is perfect for my post-pregnancy 5’4” frame (I love that it flows away from the body to hide my remaining belly pooch). It’s also the perfect loose spring/summer sweater to tuck into some high-rise bottoms (I can’t wait until I can fit into my jeans again).

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Linen V-neck, Elizabeth Suzann’s Mara Jumpsuit (reviewed here), Martiniano Glove shoes (reviewed here), Everlane mini form bag}

What I really love about this sweater though is the wonderful texture of the linen cotton combo knit. The linen makes it more lightweight and slightly rougher than a 100% cotton sweater. The texture isn’t soft and smooth but I wouldn’t say it’s itchy either. When you compare this to the the Everlane’s soft cotton square crew (reviewed here), this linen cotton version has a looser weave and is a lot lighter in weight. But both have a very similar boxy cropped shape with wide sleeves (except the cotton sweaters are crewnecks while the cotton linen blend sweaters are v-necks). I wore this cotton linen sweater in 73 degree weather and it was the perfect light cover-up and didn’t cause any overheating. The cotton sweater would have definitely been too warm.

My only concern is how this sweater will do over time and with multiple washings. The instructions say to handwash this, which I’m not a fan of doing. But I’d be willing to wash this sweater by hand because I love it that much. I’ll update this review after I wash it and let you know how it fares.

A close up of the weave

So if you’re looking for a good hot weather cover-up or a sweater for those slightly cooler summer days, I highly recommend this cotton linen blend sweater. And I definitely recommend getting it in this sand color (which is more cream than beige) since the texture will elevate your all neutral look (because you know that’s going to be the trend of the season). I have to say this is one of the better sweaters to come around from Everlane in recent times and I have a feeling it’ll go fast (the crewneck version is already sold out in the smaller sizes).

Has anyone else tried this cotton linen sweater and what did you think?

Martiniano Glove Shoe Review vs. Everlane's Day Glove

After writing this post back in February where I considered giving the Everlane Day Glove a second chance or trying out the original glove shoe from Martiniano, I could not get the Martiniano ones out of my mind. I flirted with the idea of trying them out before, but seriously couldn’t stomach the $435-$500+ price tag of these shoes (I have no problems splurging on bags but I have trouble splurging on shoes). But even if I were to score this on the secondhand market (I’m currently stalking TheRealReal), I don’t know what my size would be in these flats. And a quick internet search for Martiniano Glove Shoe reviews, pretty much came up with nothing (though I did find this article from Fashionista about them and learned that they started getting popular around 2015—boy am I late to this party lol). So I decided I had to just see for myself what the hype was all about when it came to the Martiniano Glove shoe, and since I wanted to give an accurate comparison I reordered the Everlane Day Glove as well (my original review of it here)

So what did I think?

Let me put it this way, if I were to liken these shoes to cars, the Everlane Day Glove is like a Honda while the Martiniano Glove is like a Rolls Royce.

Everlane at top, Martiniano at bottom

But let me get specific. The biggest difference between the two, as you can see from the pictures alone is the kind of leather they use for the shoe. The Martiniano’s are handmade (in Argentina) from a beautiful, supple, slightly shiny and totally malleable Italian kid leather. It really does feel like one of those luxurious thin leather gloves that’s normally worn on your hands. In comparison the leather of the Everlane Day Glove is much thicker, stiffer, and duller (they say buttery soft in their product description but that is a lie when compared to the Martinianos).

The difference in the leather leads to a difference in fit. I had trouble with the Everlane Day Glove (read all about it here) and even with a week of consistent wear, wasn’t able to break them in. And instead I got a blister on the heel and a few pain points at the top of my foot. I’ve been wearing the Martinianos around the house and have had zero issues and there is no breaking in period because the leather is so soft and malleable. The top of the shoe neither digs in, nor do I have any rubbing at the heel. This is truly a dream of a shoe to wear.

The Martiniano shoes run true to size and I got my usual size 8 (or in this case a 38 and fyi I’m the same size for Everlane as well) and it fit perfectly. The Martiniano glove shoes are made from all leather, including the sole, except for the stacked heel which is made out of wood. In comparison, the Everlane Day Glove has a rubber bottom that cannot be resoled and is slightly more inflexible than the leather soles. However, the leather soles of the Martinianos does mean the bottom is quite slippery and some Martiniano owners have highly recommended adding a rubber sole to the shoe. This means that the with the proper upkeep, you can resole your Martinianos for years to come.

So which one did I keep?

Neither >.<

Ok before I lose all credibility here, I had every intention of keeping the Martiniano Glove shoes but when Totokaelo (where I bought these shoes from) gave me a 15% off coupon for messing up my order I decided that I would send them back repurchase them to get $65 off (that’s nothing to sneeze at). But I decided to hold off on repurchasing because I’m not too sure where these shoes will fit in with my new mommy lifestyle (yes they’re still practical flats that are uber comfy, but really am I going to be caring about my shoes when I’m in full mommy-mode? Will I fret about getting vomit or food on the beautiful leather tops? Will I even care about shoes when I’m sleep deprived? I don’t know so I have to see before spending $400 on shoes). Also I would go over my quota of one closet addition per month if I had kept these shoes (though there’s nothing that says I can’t buy them in the future as an addition for another month). And finally, if I do re-buy these Martiniano flats, I kind of want them in a color other than black (these burgundy ones are super dreamy though I wouldn’t be getting a discount so I don’t know, we’ll see. Or I’ll wait until Totokaelo comes up with other colors—they just released an orange one that I’m not a fan of).

But here’s my final advice for people who are trying to decide between the Everlane ones and the Martiniano glove shoes: if you’re looking for a practical flat that doesn’t break the bank, you have normal to narrow feet with a low profile and/or you’re willing to do the work to break them in then I think you should definitely go for the Everlane ones. At almost 1/4th the price of the Martiniano shoes, the Everlane one is a great value and essentially does the same thing in a similar looking shoe: gets you from A to B (I guess this is the same argument you can make when deciding between a Honda and a Rolls Royce lol). But of course if you have the funds to indulge, the commitment to keep them up, and want a shoe that’ll last and last then the Martiniano glove shoe is the luxury shoe for you.

P.S. If you’re feeling lucky, sometimes TheRealReal has a preowned Martiniano glove shoe. Check here if they currently have any in your size (I’ve been seriously stalking this feed for months and so far no size 38s have shown up, though I’ve seen 37s and 39s!).

P.P.S I snagged a pair of the heeled Martiniano Glove shoes on eBay (for $95!!) so I’ll be reviewing those too (though I still really want a pair of these flats as well).

Gifted Everlane Items: Where Are They Now?

So I rarely see other bloggers talk about what happens to their gifted items. I guess we are supposed to assume that each piece that we raved about when we first got it, is still an amazing workhorse in our closet. But we all know that’s not true because that’s not true about most items that enter our wardrobe (gifted or not). Also I’m sure bloggers don’t want to look a gift-horse in the mouth (I had to look that idiom up to get it right and what an interesting phrase) and burn bridges with future sponsorship/gifts. Buuuut since I’m not looking for any sponsors or gifts this year I’m going to tell it to you straight: not all the gifts I got from Everlane were a winner. Here’s a list of things I was gifted and what were the winners and losers.

Winners

Everlane Easy Chinos (reviewed here): These were easily my favorite pair of pants from Everlane and I wore them a ton. They made it to my most worn items of 2018 list as well as lowest cost per wear Everlane list. Can’t wait to wear them again post pregnancy!

Polka dot shirt dress (reviewed here): I really love this dress and the cupro material, and the only reason why I stopped wearing it was because the baby bump was making it a tad too short. But again I plan to rock this once my body shrinks back to it’s normal size.

Renew lightweight puffer (reviewed here): This was my last gifted item from Everlane and I’m glad I was able to try it out. I love how lightweight it is but still keeps me warm. I can no longer zip it up currently but that hasn’t stopped me from wearing it layered over sweaters or with a scarf.

Losers

The Academy Blazer (reviewed here): As much as I wanted to love this blazer, I think I just have to admit I’m no longer a blazer-wearing person. Also the shorter style just isn’t as on trend or as cute as the oversized one. I sold this on eBay and kept the $65 to go towards my hospital bills (I was feeling a bit poor at the time so I sold a bunch of things to go towards the hospital bill).

Short Sleeve Popover Shirt (reviewed here): As much as I liked the shirt in theory, I ended up not wearing it as much as I had hoped. I think in the end it reminded me too much of my Episcopalian school uniform (from when I was in K-5) and I never felt stylish in it. Also the collar kept getting makeup on it which is a pet peeve. Also sold it on eBay.

Mixed Bag

Day Glove Flats (reviewed here): I think I was one of the very few people that didn’t love love these flats. Even in the review I disclosed the fact that I ended up selling these (and donated the sale money) due to the fact they gave me blisters. But every time I see a pair on Insta or on a blog I get a twinge of regret and wonder if I should’ve just slapped on some bandaids and worked harder to break them in. I’m debating on repurchasing these or possibly going for the original Martiniano Glove shoes that these are “inspired by.”

Form Bag (reviewed here): This was something I boldly asked Everlane for, without them asking me if I wanted anything that month. And I was super thrilled when they said yes. But I put it in this mixed bag category here because even though I still love it (love how it looks and how I can carry it), I find that I don’t wear it as often as I thought I would. It might be because I’m still sans baby so I can get away with carrying small bags (which I rather do since they’re lighter and don’t get in the way). I’m keeping it around since it’s a great mid-size bag and am hoping it would work as a minimal diaper bag.

What I have left

And I think that’s it. I was gifted about one item per month from about March to October, so a total of 7 items. I’m extremely grateful to have had this partnership, especially when I think about all the winner items I keep wearing on repeat (or will get to wear once baby comes). Currently I’m putting a hold on the partnership since I’m trying to decrease my clothing consumption and also because I don’t want to be buying things for my pregnant body, just in case I don’t wear them once my body settles back to its “regular” shape (in whatever form that’s going to be—I’m trying to keep expectations low lol). So I might hit them up later to see if they’d be interesting in partnering again, but if not that’s okay too. I’m just grateful for the things I did receive!

Everlane Try-On: The Cashmere V-Neck Midi Dress

First of all, I just want to say please excuse the quality of the photos in this post. I had just gotten out of the hospital and was preparing for a big move so I didn’t really have time to style photos or even do makeup (thus the headless shots). I hope to be getting back to better quality photos soon. Anyway I had ordered this cashmere V-neck midi dress from Everlane back in November because I wanted a warm and stretchy dress. I sized up to a medium to accommodate the growing bump but I feel like I could have gotten away with the small (it just would have been more form fitting). Also because of the bump the midi length gets shortened a little to be just below the knees for me, which I think is a good length for this kind of dress. Without the bump, the dress would probably be more of a true midi length and thus make my legs look stumpier without heels (though the pointed flats of my favorite Everlane Boss Mules helps lengthen the leg a little).

So why is this post just a try-on and why didn’t I keep it? In the end I decided that the size was a tad too large and I wasn’t sure I would wear it post pregnancy. Also a dress like this has very limited layering options and it’s just too warm for California winters. If I got overheated in this I would just have to grin and bear it. So as much as I love the look and feel of this sweater dress, the prudent thing to do (especially if I’m trying to keep my closet minimal this year) was to send it back. This might be better for those who have to brave snowy winters and frigid temperatures.

Anyway that’s the last Everlane review for awhile since I’m on my one-purchase-a-month resolution now. But I still have some other reviews left from my last December purchases. Also moving away from the clothes-reviewing-posts has helped me come up with some future posts that I think you’ll find interesting and helpful (I hope), so stay tuned for those!

Everlane Try-On: Soft Cotton Square Cardigan

I really really loved Everlane’s Soft Cotton Square Crew sweater (reviewed here) so when the black version of the crew neck sweater wasn’t available, I decided to try out the black version of their Soft Cotton Square Cardigan. It has the same soft cotton material and the same square shape so it’s bound to be just as great, right? Well…

I had originally had visions of the sweater looking like this:

And not this:

I think if I was wearing skinny jeans like the instagram pic, it would be pretty cute. Or maybe one of those pairs of snug fitting high-waisted jeans. Or I think the key might be to keep it unbuttoned for a cuter look.

Let’s just say it’s not doing my prego body shape any favors. While the soft cotton crew sweater has a great drape and tends to hide my prego belly, the cardigan seems to accentuate it. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m not styling it well or because my current figure is not suited to this shape but I rarely found this cardigan flattering. At first I thought it was kind of cute but with more photo evidence, I decided it was not that cute.

{Wearing: Everlane Soft Cotton Square Cardigan, Hatch Nantucket dress, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here or here, reviewed here)}

In the end I was undecided but did think it wasn’t that cute while pregnant. And since I didn’t want to hold on to this cardigan in the off chance it’ll look cute once I get my usual figure back, I decided to just send it back.

Has anyone else tried this sweater and found it flattering? What am I doing wrong here?

Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane 2018

Last week Friday I did a year in recap of what items in my whole closet that I wore the most and this week I wanted to see which Everlane items in my closet had the lowest cost per wear. I think it’s a good indication of what pieces from Everlane (my favorite brand) were really worth it. I did one last year for 2017 and you can see how much or how little that list has changed for this year (last year was just a guess since I didn’t have the Stylebook App yet). And this year I have the actual cost per wear!

1) Everlane Street Sandal (no longer sold): Reviewed here. This is my second pair of these shoes that I started wearing this year (you should have seen how beat up my first pair got! Those were included in last year’s lowest cost per wear Everlane post). And already this second pair is the lowest cost per wear Everlane item and also the only one under $1. I plan to wear them for another season so get ready to see the cost per wear on these go down to pennies!

2) Everlane Day Market Tote: Reviewed here and a 100 wears later post here. I already talked about them in last week’s most worn post and this was my number 1 most worn/used item. Seriously this tote is worth it!

3) The Ribbed Wool Cashmere Sweater (no longer sold): Reviewed here. This also appeared in last year’s post and also in this year’s most worn items post. I guess you can say this is my all-time favorite sweater from Everlane so it’s a shame they decided not to re-release it this past year.

4) The (original) Anorak (no longer sold): Reviewed here. Also on last year’s lowest cost per wear post since this is my go-to rain coat for almost 3 years running. This anorak is best for wet Cali winters where it’s actually not that cold since it’s quite a bit thinner than their City Anorak that they released a year later (late 2016). I love this rain jacket because it’s so lightweight and easy to pack into your bag, but it does it’s job perfectly. I usually layer sweaters underneath to keep warm.

5) Easy Chino (c/o Everlane): Reviewed here. Ah, my most favorite pair of pants from Everlane so of course it’s in my lowest cost per wear post. I wore them consistently since I got them in June (as a gift from Everlane so technically cost is $0 but I like to calculate it out as if I did purchase it). After multiple washings and dryings in the dryer, the edges of the elastic waistband are getting a bit worn-looking so I’ve started air drying them instead of putting them in the dryer (gotta make them last as long as possible!). But they’re starting to look like a favorite vintage pair of pants and I can’t wait to bust them out again post pregnancy!

6 and 7) Everlane's cotton two-pocket shirt: Reviewed here. This is one of the items I liked so much that I bought two of them and I guess I like them pretty much equally since they’re right next to each other in cost per wear. These are the perfect shirts to just throw over your outfit in the summer when you want to cover your arms from the sun but they don’t cling to you or make you hot. I wore them a lot when I was out and about or when driving. Plus the large pockets are handy when needing to stash something right away. Though I won’t be working the Airstream biz this coming year I can see them transitioning to the perfect breastfeeding top (button down but also cropped and boxy).

8) The Modern Utility Jacket: Reviewed here. This was my most worn jacket of 2018 because of its versatility and layerability. Also loved all the large pockets. I look forward to getting the cost per wear down even lower in 2019 (I foresee all those pockets being really handy for kid stuff).

9) The Cotton Long Sleeve Crew: Reviewed here. I originally loved this sweater so much that after my first purchase in 2017 (the pink one), I waited until 2018 to buy this second striped one. Well as you can see in the post, they actually changed their second run production to be a much bigger and looser of a sweater and I loved it even more. So it’s no surprise to see it on my list here.

10) The Day Heel Mules: Reviewed here. My most worn heels of 2018, nuff said lol

11) Waffle Knit Cashmere Crew (from 2017): Reviewed here. I loved this sweater in 2017 and I loved it in 2018 so it’s no wonder I was able to get the cost per wear down fairly low (considering it’s cashmere and a $155 sweater). I loved it so much that I bought their oatmeal colored version of this for 2018 (and have already worn it 16 times this winter season).

12) The Polka Dot Shirt Dress: Reviewed here. This was my first time trying the fabric cupro (made sustainably from cotton by-product), and I love it. I wore this dress from the end of summer into fall and with some layering, it was the perfect transition dress. The cupro breathes but also keeps you warm. And it feels like silk without the wrinkling and high maintenance upkeep. I stopped wearing it just because with the growing baby bump, the front became a bit too short for my liking. But I can’t wait to throw this on post pregnancy!

And there you have it folks, my current lowest cost per wear Everlane items. I plan to continue to track this year after year and I’ll be able to see which favorites I keep wearing (and thus really lowering the cost per wear). What were some of your lowest cost per wear items in 2018?

Everlane Review The Soft Cotton Square Crew

So I’m quite a bit late to the game here on Everlane’s soft cotton square crew since these sweaters were released ages ago. But I usually avoided the square styles since I didn’t think it flattered my petite frame. I’ve always felt like a sail from a sailboat in their square styles. However, I’ve just figured out square shaped sweaters are 1) less sail-like because they drape so nicely and 2) they’re the best friend for pregnant ladies since they don’t cling to the belly.

{Wearing: Everlane soft cotton square crew (size small), Storq pencil skirt (review coming soon), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here)}

I purchased this sweater on a whim as a second item to get free shipping, not really expecting much. But while I returned the alpaca sweater (reviewed here), I fell in love with this cotton square crew. So much so that I want to get a second one (but I keep reminding myself more is not always better so I’m going to wait). But right now San Jose is in the mid 60’s and it’s the perfect temperature for these cotton sweaters.

This is the perfect, slightly cropped casual cotton sweater to throw over anything (though I especially like the look when it’s over a more fitted bottom). The cotton quality is awesome and is softer than Everlane’s long sleeve cotton crew (reviewed here). Yet the knit is still pretty tightly woven and doesn’t stretch out much with repeated wear. But I do wonder if it’ll stretch out after washing. I’ll keep you posted on how it wears. The care instructions say to hand wash cold, but I usually put sweaters in a net in the washer and wash on delicate (and lay out to dry). I got this in a small and because of the square shape I find it’s the right size (and I’ll get to wear it post pregnancy in the spring too). As I write this review and all the positives about this sweater I’m really itching to get a second one (probably in black).

Anyway who else has this sweater and loves it?

P.S. Anyone else get the free $20 from Everlane? This makes it even more tempting to buy another one…

P.P.S It looks like Everlane added some things to their Choose What You Pay Sale (and here are some of my current faves on sale), the best of which are the polka dot cupro dress here (and if you prefer a button-down, their polka dot cupro shirt here). I loooooove my polka dot cupro dress in navy, which I reviewed here. I’ve worn it 11 times so far and plan to wear it without the belt and with leggings for the winter! And for those living in the southern hemisphere or somewhere similarly warm, my all time favorite cotton dress from Everlane is also for sale here (though I have the blue and white striped one, and not this red one, which I reviewed here). And if you’re feeling lucky, enter my $50 Everlane gift card giveaway that I posted about yesterday!

The Everlane Day Market Tote 100 Wears Later

As my first item in my closet to reach a 100 wears this year (ever since I started keeping track in the Stylebook app), I wanted to give you guys an update on how this Everlane Day Market Tote is holding up. I originally reviewed the bag here. Currently I’m at 104 wear and at $1.58 per wear. Not bad eh?

This is by far my most used item because it’s my work tote and travel tote. And since it’s my work tote I don’t baby it at all. I just pile things in because in all transparency I’m quite a messy person.

So if you’re one to put things in neatly I’m sure your tote would look much better than this after 100 wears. But as for me, I know this is a really great tote because even after all the abuse it’s taken, it’s not only still fully functional but it still looks great too!

I actually like the look of the tote on the weathered side. It looks loved and well-used. And with age, the leather on this tote has gotten better. The leather has softened with use. The corners are also a bit wrinkled and when it sits empty, it takes a funny shape (but I’m pretty sure this is because like I said above, I just throw things in there). But I like it. It’s got it’s own wrinkles and character.

The handles are still in great shape even though I’ll carry up to 30+ pounds in there (and I can do that because the tote itself is so lightweight). I once had a Mansur Gavriel bag straps get flaky and crusty as the leather and paint started to soften and wear but I have no problems like that with this bag.

I have to say that after my Longchamp Le Pliage tote, this Everlane tote is my favorite (the longchamp is #1 because it’s foldable). But this is by far my favorite leather bag, which is interesting because the leather on this bag is unlike most of my leather bags (this one is stiffer and lighter than the rest). So if you’re looking for an excellent workhorse of a bag, I highly recommend Everlane’s Day Market tote. I look forward to writing a 200 wears later post on this bag :)

Everlane Try-On: The Oversized Alpaca Crew

I ordered this shortly before my “no more reviews” resolve a month ago and it’s been sitting in my to review pile for awhile (and that is also how I know I ordered way too many things). But I finally got around to it and I’m calling this post a “try-on” instead of a review because I sent it back.

So before I got my hands on this, I talked to fellow Everlane enthusiasts and found the reviews to be a mixed bag. As for me, I liked it but at this point 1) I have way too many sweaters and 2) there’s no point in keeping this if I don’t like how it looks on me now (due to my preggo belly). I could see myself wearing this post baby but that winter is a long time from now. Also the fact that the sweater is a mix of nylon (30%) and wool (10%) is a turn-off.

{Wearing: Everlane Oversized Alpaca Crew, Storq Pencil Skirt (review coming soon, size 3), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here)}

Because of the wool I did find the sweater to be ever so slightly itchy at the beginning but I’m pretty sensitive to that kind of stuff. But after awhile I think your body acclimates and I didn’t notice it as much. This is my first time trying alpaca and I find that the sweater is super lightweight and fluffy. The texture kind of reminds me of angora (rabbit fur) but without the itch and shedding that I’ve experience with angora in the past (like waaaay past).

I wish Everlane had made this as an 100% alpaca sweater because I want to be able to compare it to a 100% cashmere sweater. From a quick internet search I learned that alpaca fiber is more lightweight, warmer and pills less than cashmere due to longer more hollow fibers. Also alpacas are better for the environment because they’re soft-hooved and gentle grazers (this tidbit from Everlane). Anyway I’m definitely going to check out 100% alpaca sweaters in the future but for now I’m going to stick with the cashmere that I already have.

Did you guys try out the alpaca crew and what did you think?

Everlane Try On: The Soft Wool Rib Crew Sweater

So I ordered this Soft Wool Rib Crew and another Everlane sweater before I decided to cool it with the reviews of new items, and you know how slow shipping can be so I just got them. And well since they’re here I might as well try them out and let you know what I think right?

So I initially fell in love with the sweater because of the white and black marl pattern. I’m such a sucker for that look, and I thought that the side slits up the front were an interesting detail. Buuuuttt…

Ok so I know the preggo belly does not help here and in fact the slits seem to make it worse. But is it no wonder that the Everlane styles the sweater tucked into the pants in the first picture on their site? But yes the sweaters is doing me zero favors here and you guys agreed:

Oh and I got my regular size small here and being pregnant I probably should be wearing at least a medium. On the plus side, the soft wool (which is 100% wool) was indeed soft and not itchy at all. Of course it’s no cashmere and for $15 more I would definitely choose their waffle knit cashmere (still my absolute favorite) over this sweater. Ah well I have enough sweaters as it is and I probably should be buying too many clothes when pregnant in hopes of wearing it later, so back this went!

Everlane Review: The Wool Academy Blazer

*I was gifted this item by Everlane to review so this is a type of sponsored post though all opinions are my own.

Last year when Everlane first came out with their Oversized Blazer I was reluctant to review it at first because I used to be a blazer person when I worked in an office, but knew I was no longer a blazer person because I work at a garage. I did eventually review it here, so take a look if you’re interested in getting the Oversized Blazer this year (I’m pretty sure it’s the same one). And TL;DR of that review: the blazer is super oversized so even though I’m usually a size 4 in Everlane, the size 0 was a good fit for me even though it was still a bit long from my 5’4” frame. In the end I returned that blazer because it just wasn’t working for me.

But when I saw that this year that Everlane came out with a shorter blazer that they’re calling the Wool Academy Blazer, I really wanted to give it a spin even though I still work in a garage. But I felt like Everlane read my review last year and gave us a blazer option for us short gals. So I wanted to give it a shot. And you know what? It’s now my new favorite blazer and outerwear option for autumn.

{Wearing: Everlane Wool Academy Blazer, Splendid cotton dress (thrifted, similar here), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Celine Soft Cube bag (similar here, reviewed here)}

Maybe I love a blazer even more this year because it hides the preggo belly somewhat or at least makes me feel more put together despite wearing loose clothing. Anyway I’m wearing a size 4 here and I find that it’s the perfect fit in both my arms, shoulders and length. So I would say it runs true to size, especially if you’re on the petite side.

The material is 62% wool and 38% nylon and it’s a nice weight without being too heavy (perfect for cooler Californian days). The inside is lined so there’s no itchiness. And I love the mini check pattern for adding some interest though still being quite subtle.

Even though I won’t be able to button the front at all very soon, I look forward to wearing this over all my outfits as a light coat until winter hits. It’s the perfect addition to add some prep to my step :)

P.S. For those of you feeling tired of the sponsored content on this blog, I feel you. As much as I appreciate Everlane’s occasional sponsorship, I’m starting to feel a bit “sponsored-out” so I’m going to cool it for the next couple of months and review my usual unsponsored items. I’m also in general going to cool it on reviews because I’m also feeling like I’ve been acquiring a bit too much these days (especially when it comes to clothes). So I hope you guys enjoy posts about matters other than clothes!

Also I’ll be skipping out on Friday posts for the next couple of weeks since I’m trying to put in more time on writing about other things (gotta admit reviews are easy but coming up with other interesting things to talk about is not as easy).

Everlane Review: ReNew Lightweight Puffer

* I received this item as a gift and thus it is a type of sponsored review, though of course all opinions are my own.

This year in general I’ve been trying to be better about my consumption and disposal of plastic (like a lot of you I’m sure). And like many of you, I try but also fail repeatedly. Like the times I’m super thirsty but forgot to bring my reusable water bottle or when the take out place puts all my food in plastic containers and bags. Going zero waste is hard and it’s not a one time thing. It takes diligence and perseverance. But it’s important. So I’m glad to see Everlane is trying to do their part by eliminating all virgin plastic from their supply chain, production, warehouses, and their office by 2021. It’s definitely a step in the right condition. And as part of that initiative, they released their ReNew line that uses recycled plastic in their line of puffers and fleeces.

Now this isn’t super revolutionary since Patagonia has been doing this for awhile now, but it’s nice to see another brand do it in their own aesthetic (because as much as I love the utilitarianism of Patagonia, they’re not exactly modern chic).

The puffer I requested to try out was their lightweight puffer in stone. I don’t normally go for white outerwear but something about the muted/faded white with the black zippers were calling my name. This is made from the equivalent of 15 recycled water bottles, which is less than I expected (especially when you compare it to the fleece that’s made from 35 recycled water bottles). But the point is that everything (except the zipper, which they’re working on) is made from recycled materials.

I ordered this in a size small, which fits me for now (but as I get more pregnant, I probably won’t be able to zip it up). And I would say it runs TTS. When I compare it to Everlane’s lightweight puffer from last year (reviewed here) I would say this year’s version feels slightly less puffy. I wonder if it’s the difference in the “Gold Luxe” primaloft vs. the recycled primaloft insulation). Either way I think it’s a good thing since I feel like if it was too puffy, this jacket would make me look like a marshmallow. Also the insulating temperatures for both the old and new jacket are the same, so the actual warmth factor probably doesn’t change. And since both the old and new versions of the jacket are made in the same Vietnamese factory, everything is pretty much the same same. Except of course this year’s version is made from recycled plastic. I like that the jacket also has a bit of a curved cut in the back instead of straight across to add some interest. I think if you’re looking for a nylon puffer with a hood, their lightweight half zip puffer would be a good option.

When Everlane sent the jacket, they also had some extra zero waste goodies that I look forward to using (especially the bamboo toothbrush since it is my first)! Also now I have a cute Everlane reusable bag to go along with all my homemade ones (seriously if you can only do one thing to lessen your plastic impact, grocery shopping with reusable drawstring bags for your produce makes such a difference). Also the poly bag that Everlane is now using is made from recycled plastic. I hate that almost all clothes we buy online comes in poly bags, but I get it: it’s meant to protect the clothes from damage. I save every single one of them and reuse it when I sell stuff on eBay. Not only does that protect the clothes I ship out but I guess it helps me feel better for reusing it. Also in some ways, I think I pass on the guilt and responsibility of having to consume and dispose of that plastic bag.

So if you’re looking for a puffer jacket or fleece this winter to fill a hole in your closet or to replace an old one, I think the Everlane ReNew line is a really great responsible option. However if you don’t need it, please don’t buy it. Another aspect of being a responsible consumer is to only buy what you really need, and consuming something just because it’s made responsibly is not actually the most responsible thing to do. As for me, this light colored puffer is something I can definitely use this year, and you’ll be seeing it a lot I hope (in fact I’ve added it to my Fall 10x10 so you’ll probably see some pics of it on Instagram).

P.S. Recycled plastic is good and all, but the best thing to do is not to use it at all. Treat it like gold and buy it sparingly because the reality of recycled plastic also isn’t that pretty. I just watched the documentary China Plastic and it’s so informative and yet so heartbreaking. If you have Amazon Prime, please do yourself a favor and watch it. Recycled plastic is not the solution, it’s just a band aid. No plastic at all when possible is the best solution— a lesson I know in my head and heart that I’m trying to put into practice on the daily.

Everlane Review: The Cashmere Rib Round Crew

So far I’ve tried Everlane’s ribbed wool-cashmere crew —reviewed here (a favorite and probably most worn Everlane sweater) and their premium ribbed cashmere crew—reviewed here (highly overpriced at the time and sent back immediately). So I thought why not try their regular cashmere ribbed crew neck sweater, which is a new release for this year. I was debating on not getting it because I already purchased a second waffle knit cashmere crew in oatmeal (the first one I got was the navy last year-reviewed here- and that one was a favorite all winter/spring long). But there’s something about textured cashmere sweaters that I have a hard time passing up, especially when they come out in interesting colors like loden, a olive brown green.

{Wearing: Everlane cashmere rib round crew sweater (size small), Storq easy pants (review coming soon), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here—and now that I’ve broken them in, I’m so in love with them!), and Everlane Form bag (c/o; reviewed here)

Well I tried it and I was kind of eh about it. I polled it in my Instagram stories where 79% of you guys said to return it (though I wonder if I swayed it by stating I was eh about it). But to me it’s nothing special (unlike their waffle knit cashmere which has a split hem, split sleeves and varying textures from body to sleeve). To me, this rib sweater just looks like a plain classic menswear type of sweater. Someone else commented that it looks like it’s from the 90s and she avoids all clothes that look like they’re from that era because it reminds her of highschool, haha. As for me, growing up in Hawaii I never wore sweaters to highschool so there’s no such association for me on this one.

But if you’ve been looking for a menswear inspired cashmere sweater this one ain’t bad. The cashmere is really thick and comfy (much better than Everlane’s $100 cashmere sweater material) and I like that the crew neck is cut close to the neck. I’m wearing a small here, which is my usual size and it fits TTS (though the preggo belly does make it a bit more fitted in the midsection—that’s also why I rolled the hem under so that the preggo belly isn’t as accentuated). Also I’m 5’4” and I find that if I don’t roll the hem under, the sweater looks a tad too long on me, so it might be better suited for slim women over 5’5”.

Anyone else try it and what did you think?

All About My Ethical Black Tees: A comparison of Pact, Everlane, Grana, James Perse, Organic by John Patrick (and Amour Vert)

Black tees have always been a staple in my closet, as I’m sure it is for a lot of you guys. There’s nothing easier than throwing on a nice-looking black tee with jeans for a casual yet put-together look. But for something so simple, it’s been pretty hard finding the “perfect” one, especially in the ethical fashion space. So I thought I would do a quick review of the various black tees I have and how they’ve held up through the wears.

The picture up top is my current collection of black tees and from left to right and going from oldest to newest they are: Organic by John Patrick (organic cotton), James Perse (made in the USA), Everlane (responsibly made in LA), Grana (responsibly made in China), PACT (Fair Trade GOTS organic cotton).

Organic by John Patrick

So here’s the TL;DR version of this review: my favorite one out of those top 5 is the Organic by John Patrick. It’s is by far the oldest (at over 10 years old) and most worn out of all of them but has held up beautifully. Yes the brand and sizing tag fell off and I got a couple holes in the front from snagging it on something (but the holes haven’t grown even after another 5 years worth of washings). But this is one of those beautiful tees that just get better with age. It’s soft and feels vintagey and the black hasn’t faded too much considering its age. The neckline is still in good shape and there’s no fraying at the seams. Not coincidentally this is also the most expensive of the bunch. If you were to buy it brand new, you’re looking to spend about $84 (for one tee!). That’s a lot for a tee. I purchased this one one sale at Barneys for around $65 I think. If I were to purchase another one, I would probably stalk The RealReal for one (currently they have this navy one for $35 and this white one for $35).

James Perse

My second favorite tee and also second oldest is the James Perse tee. All their tees are made in the US (so if they are following US law, should be made under fair working conditions). James Perse has been a crowd favorite when it comes to casual upscale tees for awhile now. But they produce several different kinds of black tees and not all are equally good IMHO. I think the James Perse tees with a thinner collar at the neckline hold up better than those made with a thicker band (which tends to wrinkle). The ones I like best are I think the relaxed casual tees with a larger neckline (they run a tad small for me, especially since I like my black tees to be on the more relaxed side). The one in the picture up top is actually one I purchased second hand for quite cheap and it’s lasted me at least 8 years so far! And no holes yet in this one and the color hasn’t faded at all. I would also suggest buying these tees used because brand new they go from $60-$80 (and I find them pretty often at my local Crossroads thrift store).

Everlane

As much as I love Everlane, I don’t love most of their tees (which is too bad since that’s what they started their whole biz on). As you can see in the picture below, the collar of Everlane tees tend to get folded, wrinkled and generally mangled-looking. Also if you happen to get a small hole in your tee, you might as well throw it out because that hole will just grow and grow. Overall, the Everlane ones reads a bit like a cheap tee, especially since it also picks up a lot of lint. I’m slightly allergic to dog hair and so don’t like wearing a tee covered in the stuff (I know I have long-haired dogs so I should be okay with this, but I prefer the dog hair to come out with the lint in the dryer and not stay on my shirt). The one great thing about Everlane black tees though is that they keep their color and don’t fade. Also I will say that Everlane’s cotton crew tees keep the collar shape and are one of my favorite tees (though I like them in other colors since the other colors don’t seem to have the same lint problem as the black one does). I have several cotton crews and are a great choice when you want to cover up your chest to prevent sun damage.

Grana

So when it comes to comfort over looks, Grana is my go-to. These pima cotton shirts are super comfortable and are made of a nice smooth thick cotton knit. The collar stays nice and flat and these would be my go-to all the time if it wasn’t for the fading of the color. It does not look great after so many washes and wears. My heather gray tees in the same style though are still looking great and are my go to tees when I want to wear gray. These black ones have now been relegated to PJs.

PACT

This is my newest black tee and also my least favorite, and that’s because it is basically the lint catcher in the dryer. If I thought the Everlane black tee picked up too much lint and dog hair, this PACT one is ten times worse. The picture below is of the shirt fresh out of the dryer and there was zero lint on it when it went in. For me to be able to wear this, I would need to use a lint roller every time I clean it, which is just too much of a hassle. So that’s also why the collar still looks pristine. Sorry but I can’t speak to how it wears because I just don’t wear it.

I also added Amour Vert in parenthesis in the title because I also wanted to quickly touch upon their quality of black shirts as well. I no longer have the black tees from them because I found that I never wore them so I ended up selling them. The Amour Vert black tee I had was a black version of their Liv tee (similar here) which is made of 93% modal and 7% spandex. The quality of the tee was very stretchy and spring which did give it a nice draping quality (but in a way a synthetic blend tee does, not a good vintagey cotton tee drape). But I personally didn’t like the stretchiness and prefer my tees to be 100% cotton. Also as mentioned by Alice in the comments below, modal will pill after multiple washes so beware!).

Anyway I hope you found this little comparison guide helpful though it does seem to be a bit useless in telling you you need to spend more money for a good simple black tee. But I guess in this case you do get what you pay for. As for me I’m good with my collection of black tees for now, but if you guys have any recommendations for a 100% cotton ethical black tee I’m open to suggestions to add to this review!

Everlane Cashmere Waffle Square Crew Update After 1 Year of Wear

I’m so excited that Everlane is re-releasing their Cashmere Waffle Square Crew again this year with two new colors. You can find my original review of it here. This sweater was hands-down my favorite and most worn sweater of last year. I even sold several of my other cashmere sweater since I found that I just weren’t wearing them because this is all I wore. And you can tell how much I love it but how worn it looks in just one year (though relatively, it’s not too bad):

As with any cashmere sweater, this one pills pretty easily. But that’s easily fixable with a hand dandy lint shaver like the one I have. Voila:

(ok so maybe it’s hard to tell in the pics, but the pilling is gone, but the sweater did pick up some lint)

And if you’re debating between this one and their $100 cashmere sweater, having owned both, I say don’t bother with the $100 cashmere. The knit is thinner on the $100 cashmere so the quality in general isn’t as great. Plus this waffle knit has the kind of beautiful texture you want in a cashmere sweater. This actually looks like it could be from Jenni Kayne (ok I know this is the second post where I rave about that brand but I loooove her Californian casual chic style!), but at less than half the cost.

I also love that this sweater has split sides to make a french tuck (a front tuck) easier and I love the added detail of a longer skinner sleeve hem with a split to keep it comfy at the wrists. Anyway I like this sweater so much I bought another one in this dreamy oatmeal color (which I now see is waitlisted). I know I don’t really need 2, but having one light colored one and one dark colored one is the perfect way to round-out my sweater collection! Also I’ll be able to update this post to let you know if they’ve made any changes from last year’s version of the sweater. {Update: I received the oatmeal waffle cashmere and yes it’s exactly the same style as last year. The color looks oatmeal in regular sunlight but also has a grayish tinge in other lights}.

Oh and in case you don’t want to go back and read the original post, I went with a size down in this sweater because I find Everlane’s “square” style sweaters to be on the oversized side and I prefer a more fitted look. It does make the sweater look a tad more cropped on me but since I’m petite anyway I think it looks great.

P.S. I’m not the only fan of this sweater. Last year, Andrea also wore the heck out of her gray waffle knit cashmere.

Everlane Review: The Boss Mules and The Boss Loafers

The Boss Mules

As soon as I saw these Everlane Boss Mules on the Coming Soon page, I knew I would be trying them out. Actually I had been eyeing them since the summer when Everlane did a sneak peak of them on their Instagram Stories. And the reason why I was so excited for these shoes is that they look a lot like Jenni Kayne’s mules (similar here). I’ve always wanted her mules but couldn’t fathom spending $395 for them. But a dupe from Everlane that’s $140? Sign me up!

When I first opened the shoe box I thought, “Wow these look like witch shoes” because they were so pointy (and fyi Jenni Kayne’s version isn’t as pointy). But somehow when you wear them, the point doesn’t look as exaggerated. And in fact, the pointiness helps lengthen the leg and I really like how they make my short legs look a tad longer.

The heel of the mule is slightly padded so it feels pretty comfy and even though I have high arches, I had no problems with achy arches even after hours of walking. The front of the shoe has a suede type of material so it keeps the shoe from sliding off your foot (and it makes walking in it easier).

As for sizing, I found that they fit TTS (I’m usually an 8 in Everlane’s shoes). The width was a tad snug but nothing terrible and the length was just right. My toes didn’t feel squeezed in this at all. On the first day I wore them around for a couple hours and it did cause a small blister at the top of the knuckle of my big toe, but only on my left side. My right foot was completely fine. So for those with wide feet I do think this does need a bit of a breaking in period. Also it being a pointy shoe, if you jam that point against anything, the leather will scuff, especially in this softer pebbly matte leather.

But due to the fact that patent leather doesn’t stretch as well as regular leather I’m going to pass on the white pair of Boss Mules (which I originally really wanted and am actually still somewhat contemplating on getting). I really love the look of these shoes and I think the white ones would look so great with my navy and khaki colored pants, but I’d probably have to work on stretching out the left side shoe. Also the white will probably get so dirty and scuffed up, especially since I’m not particularly careful with my shoes and how I walk. These are all the reasons I’m telling myself to hold off on getting another pair of Boss Mules, but we’ll see how long my resolve lasts, lol.

The Boss Loafers

Now it’s a totally different story with these Boss Loafers. I kind of had a feeling they wouldn’t work with my feet because I have sizing issues with most of Everlane’s shoes from the Santa Maria a Monte factory (I explained it all here). And like most of the shoes from that factory, I found this one to be too long though the width is just right. In the pictures above, you can see how the shoes kind of gape at the back. Of course, I don’t have these issues with the Boss Mules because those don’t have a back end. But if you’ve had success with Everlane’s editor heels/slingback, Day Glove, or any of the other shoes from the Santa Maria a Monte factory then you probably won’t have a problem with these loafers. I really do like the taupe color and wish it came in the mule style!

Anyone else try the Boss Mules or Loafers and what did you think? And should I probably pass on the white Boss Mules?

Everlane Try-on: The Square Toe Slingback

Hi guys so I tried this Square Toe Slingback from Everlane, hoping that this shoe would suddenly elevate me to cool-girl chic or that fashion forward blogger. But to be honest I mostly just hated the shoe. Ok, hate is a strong word, but I generally disliked it.

And one of the reasons was due to the fit. I got my usual Everlane size 8 but like the V-heel (which I reviewed here), the width was perfect but the the length was a tad too long on me (again my foot slips out from the slingback and I would need to add something like this to keep it on my foot). And I finally figured out that the shoe lasts that the Santa Maria a Monte factory (where these shoes are made) just don’t fit my feet. That’s why the Editor Heel (reviewed here), Editor Slingback (reviewed here), V heel (reviewed here), and Day Glove (reviewed here) all made at the same factory just don’t fit my feet (I’ve tried and returned all of those shoes). The one exception was the V sling back (reviewed here) but I think that’s because the woven leather is more forgiving than the regular leather. In general I find that Everlane’s shoes from their Montopoli in Val D’Arno factory (the Day Heel, the Day Heel Mules) just fit my foot better (these are some of my favorite shoes Everlane’s ever made). So I’ll probably think twice before ordering any more shoes that come out of their Santa Maria a Monte factory. But if any of those other shoes from the Santa Maria factory worked out for you in terms of sizing, this square to slingback should also work for your foot.

In general I found the square toe area to be kind of tight near the toes (my pinky toe was definitely getting squished). Also I have feet with a high profile and so the top of the shoes presses down and rubs against the top of the foot. This is also the same problem I had with the Day Gloves and thus I was one of the few who didn’t like this generally popular shoe.

I also found the leather on these quite stiff and I didn’t like how in just wearing them around the house for 15 minutes, some major pretty creases developed on the top of the shoe at the widest point. I love the soft and supple leather used on the Day Heels and Day Mules and these are nothing like that. But they’re not quite as stiff as the Modern Loafers.

And last but not least, I just couldn’t get used to the look of the shoe. As much as I know this is granny chic, I think my style in general is just more classic. So I love my classic Day Heels, Day Mules and V Slingback (I think this is the most granny chic I can pull off). But this trendy shoes is definitely outside of my comfort zone and something I’m not sure I could pull off.

Ah well at least I tried. And I also returned them because I wanted to save my credit for the Boss Mules that are coming out soon (sneak peek of a screenshot from Everlane’s insta-story awhile back):

P.S. Is it just me or does Everlane’s shoe design team seem to borrow heavily from the styles that can be found at Need Supply. First it was the Day Glove as a dupe for the Martiniano Glove Shoe. This square toe sling back looks a lot like the Yuul Yie Square Toe Slingback to me.

Everlane Review: The Texture Cotton Crew

As soon as I saw these Texture Cotton Crew sweaters on the Everlane site I knew I was going to be trying them out, no question.  I've been looking for a reasonably priced, ethically-made, good-ole chunky knit cotton sweater for seasons.  I liked Grana's wool version from several years ago though the 100% wool was a tad warm and it ended up stretching out to a potato sack shape from all the wear.  But also in general I find the wool chunky knits that come out (and Everlane has had several in the past couple of years), are all a tad too warm for the mostly mild San Jose winters.  And you know what?  This is the chunky knit sweater I've been looking for!

{Wearing on the left: The Texture Cotton crew with old Tory Burch skirt (similar here) and Everlane Day Heel Mules (review here); on the right: with Frame Denim (similar here)}

I'm wearing a small here, and I find that they run TTS.  I love that the crew collar is fitted but not too tight and definitely not a mockneck.  The sleeves are also at the perfect length.

The knit of these sweaters is thick but very tight.  And that's probably due to the 27% nylon content in these sweaters.  I'm not a huge fan of plastic-blended fabrics but in this case I can see why they chose to go this route.  With my experience with 100% cotton knit sweaters, even a light weave will stretch and bag out.  But I think the nylon in this will help to keep this sweater's shape even though it's a thick knit (which tends to be heavier and even more prone to stretching out).  In this case I'm willing to compromise to get the heavy knit sweater look of my dreams.

{Wearing the sweater with on Left: Grana Silk Full skirt, Everlane Day Heels (review here); and on the right: Lauren Manoogian Skirt (similar here), Everlane Modern Loafer Mules}

I really like the navy color, but since I already have a favorite navy sweater from Everlane I decided to try out the "surplus" color even though I'm not usually a fan of brownish sweaters (and I originally skipped out on the white because I can't keep anything white clean for the life of me).  But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the color irl is more green and it's a true olive (even the description on the tag says "OLV" which I'm assuming means olive so I'm not sure why they decided to call it surplus?).  But I love this sweater so much I'm super tempted to get it in the white (future spills be damned because wouldn't the white just looks so wintery and lovely?), but I'm going to wait until there's something else I want to get from Everlane so I can combine it for free shipping.  

{Wearing: Everlane Texture Cotton Crew, Grana Silk Ankle Pants (review here), Everlane Modern Loafer Mules (review here)}

Also I saw on the Insta-story of a fellow Everlane addict, Sally, that she tried the v-neck version of this chunky knit sweater and the V comes down quite low.  Personally I like to keep the neckline high so that I can wear a regular tee underneath and it wouldn't peek out from under the sweater.

Anyway I'll be periodically update this post to let you know how this sweater wears (will it stretch out?  will it keep its shape?).  Oh and this is a completely unsponsored posts (though there are affiliate links so thank you for your support!) because it looks like after my moment of assertiveness I might have stepped over a line or gone over an allotted budget.  Either way I was not offered any free gifts to review for August (too bad too since there's so many things I wanted to try).  Ah well easy come, easy go but I'm still an Everlane addict at heart and so these reviews will keep on coming!

P.S. I just wanted to add that I love that these sweaters look like these beautiful cashmere ones from Jenni Kayne but of course the Everlane ones are a quarter of the cost but also not made of cashmere.

Everlane Try-on: The V-Heel

This summer I've really been loving my V Slingbacks from Everlane (review here) so I thought I would try out their heeled version, the V-Heel.  There's something about the high profile v-shaped front that looks granny-chic yet modern.  And the V-heel looks even more granny-chic because of the low square heel.  This is a pretty trendy shoe that looks "very right now" but I wonder how it will look a couple of years from now?

First a note on sizing: I got this in my usual Everlane size of 8 and I found that it was a tad too long.  The front part felt perfect (and I have slightly wide feet), but my heel kept slipping out the back.  I was debating sizing down and trying this shoe again, but I was worried that then the front part would feel too narrow.  I then debated on adding a heel pad like this one, which might have worked.  But in the end I decided to return the shoe because of the in-between sizes issue and because I'm just not a fan of suede.  I can never keep my suede shoes nice and I rather not have to fret about getting my shoes wet or scuffed.

Other than the trouble with the fit, I did like the heel height which is the same as my Day Heels.  I really love block heels and wished these fit my feet better and I could almost look past the suede.  I guess if you really want to try this shoe then I would advise possibly sizing down (or if you're in-between sizes, definitely go with your smaller size).

Anyway I probably have too many Everlane shoes as it is, so I need to start cutting back.  But I can't help it, I really love their well-made Italian shoes.  

Anyone else try this shoe and what did you think?

P.S. Also here’s another review of these V-heels from fellow Everlane addict Jamie-lee!